Box Score

EDINBORO, PA – Facing a 20-point second half deficit, No. 19 IUP rallied and cut the Fighting Scots lead to four points with under three minutes remaining but was unable to get any closer as the Crimson Hawks fell to Edinboro 73-62 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) women's basketball action on Wednesday night.

Both Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) and Melanie Todd (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) posted new career-highs in points with 17 and 13, respectively, combining for 21 points in the second half comeback.

The second half started with a 30-23 Edinboro lead but the Fighting Scots 18-4 run over the first 6:34 gave them a 48-27 advantage with less than 14 minutes to go. Edinboro was on top by 22 at 55-33 with 8:24 left when the IUP comeback began.

Todd got things going with a layup followed by a free throw on the Crimson Hawks next possession. Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) netted IUP's next four points with a bucket and a pair from the charity stripe while five straight points from Fairman made it a 57-45 game with 5:43 left.

Six more combined points by Pastorek and Fairman completed the 12-0 Crimson Hawks run and made it 57-51 with 4:07 left on the clock. IUP then narrowed the gap to four at 59-55 after another layup by Fairman with 2:50 left on the clock.

The Fighting Scots scored the next six points to go up by 10 with 1:32 on the clock but a layup and one by Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) got the score back to 65-58 just 15 seconds later. It was still a seven-point game with 1:02 remaining but Edinboro connected on its next four foul shots to get its lead back to double-digits at 71-60 with less than a minute left before ultimately closing out the victory.

The loss drops IUP to 13-5 overall and 8-4 in PSAC play. Edinboro improves to 13-3 and 10-2 in the conference.

Four players scored in double-figures for the Fighting Scots, led by Samantha Blazetic with 18 points. She also collected six rebounds and had eight blocks.

Fairman shot 5-of-11 from the field and 7-of-7 from the foul line. She also had six rebounds and five steals. Todd added eight rebounds and two steals and went 4-of-4 from the line. Pastorek finished with 14 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Crimson Hawks come back home on Saturday to face Mercyhurst (5-11, 5-7) at the KCAC. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.